As powerful and skilled as they may be, House Stark is more than just Sansa, Arya, and Jon Snow. The Stark family also consists of six majestic—and slightly terrifying—direwolves (RIP Lady, Grey Wind, Shaggydog and Summer), each with a personality all its own. Unfortunately, a new trend has started surrounding these canine creatures, and one Game of Thrones star is not happy.
Fans of the show have taken an overwhelming interest in the direwolves, even going so far as to buy Huskies that resemble the Stark family's pets. While owning your own direwolf probably sounds amazing, Huskies and direwolves are two very different animals (for one thing, the latter doesn't actually exist) and not everyone is ready for the responsibility of taking care of these dogs—which has led to many of them being abandoned once the novelty of owning a "direwolf" wears off.
Peter Dinklage, who plays Tyrion Lannister on the show, and PETA have partnered up to ask fans to make more conscious decisions when selecting a pet. "Not only does this hurt all the deserving homeless dogs waiting for a chance at a good home in shelters, but shelters are also reporting that many of these Huskies are being abandoned — as often happens when dogs are bought on impulse, without understanding their needs," Dinklage said Tuesday in a statement released by PETA.
Buying or adopting a pet strictly for aesthetic purposes may not sound harmful at first, but it has a lasting effect on pets who thought they were going to a loving home, only to be returned to a shelter or abandoned.
These direwolf lookalikes have become increasingly popular with dog owners recently, but Dinklage wants to remind pet owners that Huskies, in particular, are difficult animals to care for and have highly specific needs—including exercise and grooming—that should be considered before adopting one as a pet. "Please, please, if you're going to bring a dog into your family, make sure that you're prepared for such a tremendous responsibility and remember to always, always, adopt from a shelter," Dinklage said.
According to PETA, this is not the first time a show or film has caused a piqued interest in the sale of certain dog breeds. Films such as 101 Dalmatians, Legally Blonde, Beverly Hills Chihuahua, and Men in Black have also had similar effects on fans who want to represent their love for film through their pets. Many of these pets were ultimately returned to shelters, however, because their owners were not prepared for the responsibility of handling that specific pet.
Whether it's a Husky, a Dalmatian, a Chihuahua, or something completely different, Dinklage and PETA want to remind fans that preparing yourself for the responsibility of owning a pet is always the most important step before adopting.
